The Askim of PNG culture
Culture shock ya’ll. Let’s Imagine you are working on you house. There you are, swinging your hammer, driving finishing nails into a some wood trim. Suddenly, a friend of yours walks over to shoot the breeze and see you. You acknowledge your friend and say hello. After a few minutes of talking, he asks you if he can have your hammer, not to borrow, he just wants it. How do you respond? That is a common occurrence in PNG culture and it is called an, “askim.” I can remember countless requests from people, asking me to give them something. The requests are always random, a phone, 5 Kina, my...
Read MoreSettlements in Madang
Part of living in a foreign culture is being continually shocked by things. Back in April of 2016 there was a fight in Madang between Sepik and Highlanders. I think the official report was 3 cars were burned, multiple injuries as well as lots of unrest. As a result, Police were sent to Madang from Lae to help strengthen the local Police and assist in addressing the unrest. Part of the plan in addressing the fighting between these two groups was evicting people from Madang settlements. Settlements are melting pots of people around cities in PNG. Madang has several settlements and people...
Read MoreMy Namesake in Mareroro: Baby Jeremiah
Lorie and I found out recently that a baby was named after me in Mareroro! Cassidy Cann sent us an email with this update and a photo of the little guy (very cute). It seems to be a common thing to have children named after you in PNG. However, it tends to only happen with individuals you have built a relationship with. Zach Cann had this happen when he was in Madang during orientation. Namu is the dad of this little guy. He was instrumental in helping Matt, Zach and I house build. He primarily helped on the trip where we dug post holes, setup post, and built the foundation in...
Read MoreMeet the Tomat’
Part of living in a “foreign place” are the new fruits and vegetables that we get to try. We have been in PNG for over a year now and we still have not tried all the new things. Matt, Zach and I were given some new fruit like things during this most recent housebuilding trip. The fruit (called a Tomat’) was tear drop shaped, red and about the size of a large egg. We asked if they could put it in the food the Mareroro people cook for us. They just laughed. They said you never put it in food, you eat it by itself. So I removed the skin to find an orange fleshed tomato...
Read MoreBows and Arrows from the Highlands
One of several things that are true in this fallen world is that boys will be boys. At least that is something that we have easily observed in our family with Greer and Knox. If there is a battle to win, a dragon to slay or a dangerous feat to perform; rest assured that they will be the first through the gate. Since we arrived in PNG Greer has been asking to make a Bow and Arrow set. The only problem is there are not many trees in our backyard to fell and turn into a bow. God however provided for Greer’s desire another way. Seken is a good friend here in PNG and he is our contact for...
Read MoreThe Ants of PNG
Gather around friends. Its time to share a short ant story. Since we arrived in Madang there have been ants. As Dr. Seuss would say we have seen small ones, big ones, long ones, short ones, black ones and red ones. They are everywhere and get into everything. They are the scavengers of the ground here in PNG. Our back house has always had these large red ants on it. The ants walk around the outside walls like they own the place. They had been climbing a tree close to the house, crossing one of the small limbs like a bridge to get on the roof. So I decided to cut the smaller limbs...
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